Nelson
flashed by Johnny Shipman’s checkers a scant second ahead of Paul Goldsmith,
who had won the last two stock car meets here. Curtis Turner and Don White,
both driving Fords, edged out the new one-lap record holder, Herb Shannon,
driving a Plymouth.

Shannon led
the 28-car field for the first nine laps, most of which were under yellow.
Lloyd Ruby cracked the outer rail on the south turn during the initial lap.

On the 10th
circuit, Goldsmith, who replaced A.J. Foyt after the latter moved into the
Zecol Ford, scooted past Shannon on the main stretch. His lead was short-lived,
however, as Nelson edged Goldsmith on the very next circuit.

A foursome
vied for the third spot as Shannon gave way to Rodger Ward, White and Parnelli
Jones. By the 50th circuit, Jones had captured the coveted spot only to
ultimately lose it when an empty fuel tank forced him into the pits. Curtis
Turner improved his 11th starting position and overhauled the group by lap 55.

The day was
dotted with mishaps. During hot laps, Foyt plowed into George Viullemot’s
spinning Pontiac, without any serious damage to either car. After the green
following Ruby’s mishap, Lee Drollinger spun in the north turn. Three circuits
later, Gary Bettenhausen spun in the same spot. On lap 35, Foyt, who wasn’t
having a good day, spun in turn two but got restarted. However, three laps
later, he called it quits for good.

The Nelson
team had the field lapped after Jones moved into pits on lap 96. The twosome
also grabbed $6,500 of the record $20,600 purse. Nelson’s share was $3,824,
also a record for a winning driver.

Records
commenced early in the day when Herb Shannon erased Paul Goldsmith’s
two-year-old track record of 41.07 seconds. Shannon turned in a scintillating
40.44 mark on the dirt mile.

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Preserving the history of Midwest Auto Racing

So much racing history has been made through the years right here in the Midwest.

From the rich dirt ovals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska to the paved short tracks in Minnesota and Wisconsin, some of the best drivers ever to get behind the wheel of a race car competed right here in the heartland.

We all have our own story to share about our favorite driver who thrilled us everytime they rolled onto the track or that one particular race that still stands out as the greatest they ever saw.

We'll go back in history, 10, 20, 30, 40, even 50 years ago (even more) and reminisce about what has made racing in the Midwest so special for us.